BNNRC holds workshop on digital security for journos

July 9, 2018

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) organised a training workshop on “Digital and Physical Security for Journalists”

Journalists need to take increased security measures against digital threat of infringement on sensitive information they deal with, for both their personal and professional security, speakers said at a training session in the capital on July 5, according to a press release.

As journalists face an unprecedented risk from the spread of hackers and criminal groups, and news outlets rely more on freelancers to cover conflict and unrest, steps should be taken to increase safety and access to digital security resources, including equipment and training in physical and digital security, they said.

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) organised the training workshop on “Digital and Physical Security for Journalists” with the urge that journalists maintain safety practices to protect themselves from digital threats.

Held at The Daily Star Centre, the workshop was attended by 23 journalists and academicians representing print, electronic and online news organisations based in Dhaka and universities outside the capital.

As part of the best practices to protect information, news, sources and devices, the participants attended sessions on how to safely protect emails and use internet, how cookies work, what the safe internet websites are, how to remove internet browsing history, what incognito browsing is, anonymity network, effective use of pseudonyms, how to protect identity of email account user, encrypting mails and hard-drive, hiding information with VeraCrypt and creating strong passwords.

Brian Conley, a US trainer with international reporting experience, conducted the training where he mentioned the risks of tracking unprotected and unlocked information and data sent by emails and SMS. He strongly suggested authenticating mails before sending out mails.

Syed Zain Al Mahmood, country director of Internews, said, “Digital communication has expanded the horizons of journalists but at the same time it has brought new threats. Internews is committed to building capacity to help journalists protect themselves in their professional work.”

Explore

Support our work

Follow us

Internews is registered as a 501(c)3 organization in California, EIN 94-3027961, in England and Wales as a Charity no. 1148404 and Company no. 7891107 and in France as Non-Profit Association SIRET no. 425 132 347 000 13.